FREQUENCY OF TRYPANOSOMOSIS AND GASTROINTESTINAL PARASITES IN DRAFT DONKEYS IN THE GAMBIA IN RELATION TO ANIMAL HUSBANDRY

Prevalence of trypanosomosis, gastrointestinal strongyles and level of strongyle egg outputs were studied in relation to husbandry practices in the draught donkey population in The Gambia. Feeding regime, numbe r of working hours per day and overnight penning practices of donkeys affected significantly (P < 0.05) the level of gastrointestinal strong yle egg output, but not (P > 0.05) trypanosomosis prevalence. Dual try panosome and gastrointestinal strongyle infection significantly reduce d the PCV (P < 0.001). Animals positive for gastrointestinal strongyle s alone did not show a significantly (P > 0.05) lower PCV than those f ound negative. Husbandry practices to improve the situation are recomm ended.